JP2016060118A - Print control unit, print control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discharge a paper onto the same tray even in the case of a job in which different printing conditions are mixed, and to make a printing start time earlier.SOLUTION: When determined that a printing condition of an object page in a printing job satisfies a prescribed condition, a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on image data of a prescribed page including the object page is printed is determined, and an image based on the image data of the prescribed page whose discharge destination is determined is printed by a printing part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a program capable of discharging printed sheets to a plurality of discharge destinations.

  As a printing apparatus, one that discharges a recording sheet formed by an image forming unit to a plurality of trays is known. A method for determining a tray for each page in a job has been proposed for a job in which a special size and type of paper that can be discharged only to a specific tray and other paper are mixed (Patent Document 1). When printing is performed after image data for all pages is generated and print data is generated in the same job in which special paper and other paper are mixed, the size and paper information of all pages can be known before printing is started. For this reason, the presence or absence of special paper in the job is determined before printing is started, and if there is even one page of special paper, all the paper in the job is discharged to a specific tray. In addition, when print data is generated by performing image processing page by page for the input job, and printing is started as soon as print data for one page is generated, the presence or absence of special paper is determined for all pages in the job. It cannot be judged. Therefore, every time print data for one page is generated, it is determined whether it is a specific sheet, and when it is determined that the page is a specific sheet, the subsequent pages are discharged to a specific tray.

JP 2005-66996 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, when it is determined whether or not the paper is a special sheet every time print data for one page is generated, the printed sheet is already discharged to a tray different from the specific tray without being determined as the specific sheet. . For this reason, when there is a page of a specific sheet in the middle of a job, there is a case where the sheet cannot be discharged to the same tray. In addition, if you want to discharge all pages in a job to the same tray, the print data for all pages must be generated because the determination of the presence of special paper is made after the print data is generated. The print start time will be delayed.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems. In view of the above points, the present invention provides a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a program for discharging a job with different printing conditions to the same tray and increasing the print start time. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, a print control apparatus according to the present invention generates image data based on print data of a plurality of pages, and generates image data of a target page based on the print data by the generation unit. A first determination unit that determines whether a printing condition of the target page satisfies a predetermined condition each time the image is printed, and an image based on the image data of the predetermined page including the target page based on a determination result of the first determination unit Determining means for determining a discharge destination of a sheet to be printed, and print control means for causing a printing unit to print an image based on the image data generated by the generating means, wherein the determining means includes the first determination. When the means determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, it determines a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on the image data of the predetermined page is printed, and the print control means An image based on image data of the predetermined pages which is determined discharge destination is the serial determination means, characterized in that to print on the printing unit.

  According to the present invention, even a job in which different printing conditions are mixed can be discharged to the same tray and the printing start time can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the labor of user sorting and shorten the printing time.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration relating to control of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the structure of the sorting unit 114 of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating in which order a paper is discharged in which order after the tray is determined according to the flow of FIG. 4. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the relative arrangement | positioning of each component of the apparatus used by this embodiment, an apparatus shape, etc. are an illustration to the last, and are not limited only to them.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus that is an example of a print control apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has only a printing function. However, the image forming apparatus is not limited to this. The image forming apparatus further includes a reading device that reads an image on a document, and functions as a copier or a combination of other functions. It is good also as an apparatus. In addition, a recording material (recording medium or recording sheet) that uses a roll sheet will be described as an example of printing processing. However, it is possible to continuously print a plurality of pages on the same surface without being cut halfway. If it is a continuous sheet of a scale, it will not be restricted to the roll shape. Further, the continuous sheet may be cut automatically by the image forming apparatus, or may be cut by a user's manual instruction. The material of the recording material is not limited to paper, and various materials can be used as long as they can be printed. Further, the image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus capable of printing not only on a continuous sheet but also on a cut sheet that has been cut into a predetermined size. Further, the printing method is not limited to the image printing by the ink jet method using the liquid ink for image printing described later. Solid ink may be used as the recording agent, and various types such as an electrophotographic method using toner and a sublimation method may be employed. Further, the recording is not limited to color recording using a plurality of color recording agents, and monochrome recording using only black (including gray) may be performed. The printing is not limited to the printing of a visible image, but may be an invisible or difficult-to-view image printing. Other than general images, for example, a wiring pattern, a physical pattern in the manufacture of parts, a DNA base It is good also as printing of various things, such as a print of arrangement | sequences. That is, the present invention can be applied to various types of recording apparatuses as long as the recording agent can be applied to the recording material. Further, when the operation of the printing process in the image forming apparatus is controlled by an instruction from the external apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1, this external apparatus becomes the print control apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus using a roll sheet (a continuous continuous sheet longer than the length of a printing unit (one page) in the conveyance direction) as a recording material. The image forming apparatus includes the following components 101 to 115, which are arranged in one housing. However, these components may be divided into a plurality of cases.

  The control unit 108 incorporates a controller (including a CPU or MPU), an output device for user interface information (a generator for display information, acoustic information, etc.), and a control unit having various I / O interfaces, and the entire image forming apparatus. Manage various controls.

  The image forming apparatus includes two units, ie, an upper sheet cassette 101a and a lower sheet cassette 101b as roll sheet units. A user loads a roll sheet (hereinafter referred to as a sheet) into a magazine and then loads the sheet into a sheet cassette 101 (101a, 101b) of the main body of the image forming apparatus. The sheet pulled out from the upper sheet cassette 101a is conveyed in the direction a in the figure, and the sheet pulled out from the lower sheet cassette 101b is conveyed in the direction b in the figure. Sheets from any cassette travel in the direction c in the figure and reach the transport unit 102. The conveyance unit 102 conveys the sheet in the direction d (horizontal direction) in the drawing using the plurality of rotating rollers 104 during the printing process. When switching from one sheet cassette to another, a sheet that has already been pulled out is rewound into the cassette 101, and a new sheet is fed from a cassette in which a sheet to be newly fed is set.

  A head unit 105 is disposed above the transport unit 102 so as to face the transport unit 102. In the head unit 105, independent print heads 106 for a plurality of colors (seven colors in the present embodiment) are held along the sheet conveyance direction. In this example, there are seven print heads corresponding to seven colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), LC (light cyan), LM (light magenta), G (gray), and K (black). . The print head may use colors other than these, and it is not necessary to use all of them. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment forms an image on a sheet by ejecting ink from the print head 106 in synchronization with the conveyance of the sheet by the conveyance unit 102. Note that the print head 106 is disposed at a position where the ink discharge destination does not overlap the rotation roller 104. Instead of ejecting the ink directly onto the sheet, an image may be formed by applying the ink to the intermediate transfer member and then applying the ink to the sheet. A printing unit (printing unit) is configured including the transport unit 102, the head unit 105, and the print head 106. The ink tank 109 stores each color ink independently. Ink is supplied from the ink tank 109 to a sub tank provided corresponding to each color by a tube, and ink is supplied from the sub tank to each print head 106 through the tube. The print head 106 has line heads of respective colors (seven colors in the present embodiment) arranged along the conveyance direction d during printing. The line head of each color may be formed with a single nozzle tip without a seam, or the divided nozzle tips may be regularly arranged in a single row or a staggered arrangement. . In the present embodiment, a so-called full multi-head in which nozzles are arranged in a range that covers the width of the print area of the maximum size sheet that can be used by the image forming apparatus. As an ink jet method for ejecting ink from a nozzle, a method using a heating element, a method using a piezo element, a method using an electrostatic element, a method using a MEMS element, or the like can be adopted. Ink is ejected from the nozzles of each head based on the print data, and the ejection timing is determined by the output signal of the transport encoder 103. Note that the present embodiment is not limited to an ink jet printer using ink as a recording agent. The present invention can be applied to various printing methods such as a thermal printer (sublimation type, thermal transfer type, etc.), an electrophotographic method such as a dot impact printer, an LED printer, and a laser printer.

  After the image is formed on the sheet, the sheet is conveyed from the conveyance unit 102 to the scanner unit 107. The scanner unit 107 optically reads a print image or special pattern on a sheet to check whether there is a problem with the print image, and checks the state of the image forming apparatus including the ink discharge state. In this embodiment, in the image confirmation method, the ink ejection state by reading a printed pattern for confirming the head state may be confirmed, or by comparing the printed image with the original image. You may confirm the success or failure of printing. The confirmation method can be appropriately selected from various methods.

  The sheet is conveyed in the direction e from the vicinity of the scanner unit 107 and introduced into the cutter unit 110. The cutter unit 110 cuts the sheet every predetermined unit length. Note that examples of the predetermined unit include an image of one page and an impression unit including a plurality of pages. The length of the predetermined unit varies depending on the image size to be printed. For example, the length in the transport direction is 135 mm for the L size photograph, and the length in the transport direction is 297 mm for the A4 size. The cutter unit 110 cuts the sheet in units of pages in the case of single-sided printing, but may not cut in units of pages depending on the contents of the print job. In the case of duplex printing, the cutter unit 110 continuously prints an image up to a predetermined length without cutting the first surface (for example, the front surface) of the sheet in a predetermined unit (for example, page unit). When the second surface (for example, the back surface) is printed, cutting is performed in a predetermined unit (for example, page unit).

  Note that the cutter unit 110 is not limited to one that cuts each image when performing single-sided printing or reverse-side printing of double-sided printing. It is a separate cutter device that does not cut until a predetermined length is conveyed, but cuts after being conveyed to a predetermined length and cuts into predetermined units (for example, one image (one page)). It is good also as what cut | disconnects by manual operation etc. In the width direction of the sheet, when cutting is necessary, the sheet is cut using another cutter device.

  The sheet conveyed from the cutter unit 110 is conveyed in the direction f in the drawing and is conveyed to the back surface printing unit 111. The back side printing unit 111 is a unit for printing predetermined information on the back side of the sheet when an image is printed only on one side of the sheet. Information to be printed on the back side of the sheet includes information (for example, order management number) corresponding to each print image, such as characters, symbols, and codes. When the print head 106 prints an image for a double-sided print job, the back surface printing unit 111 prints information as described above in addition to the area where the print head 106 prints an image. The back surface printing unit 111 can employ a method such as recording agent stamping, thermal transfer, and ink jet.

  The sheet that has passed through the back surface printing unit 111 is then conveyed to the drying unit 112. The drying unit 112 is a unit that heats a sheet that passes through the unit in the direction g in the drawing with warm air (heated gas (air)) in order to dry the sheet to which ink has been applied. . In addition, instead of using warm air, various drying methods such as cold air, heating with a heater, natural drying only by waiting, irradiation with electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet light can be employed. The sheets cut to the printing unit length pass through the drying unit 112 one by one, are conveyed in the h direction in the figure, and are conveyed to the sorting unit 114. Details of the sorting unit 114 will be described later.

  The sheet winding unit 113 winds a sheet on which the front surface is printed and which is not cut every predetermined unit (in this embodiment, a page unit). In duplex printing, a sheet on which an image has been formed on the front side is not cut by the cutter unit 110 in units of pages, but is cut after printing of the continuous front side is completed. The sheet on which the front surface is printed passes through the unit in the j direction in the figure, and is wound by the sheet winding unit 113. Then, after the image formation on the front surface for a series of pages has been completed, the wound sheet has a surface opposite to the previous front surface that can be printed, that is, facing the print head 106. The surface to be reversed is reversed and conveyed again in the k direction in the drawing of the unit. By carrying it in this way, the image on the back surface opposite to the front surface is printed. In the case of normal single-sided printing, the sheet on which the image is printed is conveyed to the sorting unit 114 without being wound by the sheet winding unit 113.

  As described above, when performing duplex printing, the sheet winding unit 113 is used to wind the sheet, and the sheet is reversed and printed on the back side. Therefore, the sorting unit is used for single-sided printing and double-sided printing. The surface of the sheet when discharged to 114 is different. That is, in the case of single-sided printing, since the sheet is not reversed using the sheet winding unit 113, the sheet on which the image of the first page is printed is discharged with the image of the first page facing down. When a single print job is a job having a plurality of pages, the first sheet is discharged from the sheet to the tray, and subsequently discharged sequentially to subsequent pages and the sheets overlap. Paper discharge in which the order of the sheets is ascending is called face-down paper discharge. On the other hand, in the case of duplex printing, since the sheet is reversed using the sheet winding unit 113, the sheet on which the image of the first page is printed is discharged with the image of the first page facing up. When one print job is a job for outputting a plurality of sheets, the sheet including the last page is discharged to the tray, and subsequently discharged to the sheets of the younger pages. The sheet on which the image of the first page is printed is discharged. Paper discharge in which the order of the sheets is descending is called face-up paper discharge.

  The operation unit 115 is a unit for the user to perform various operations and notify the user of various information. For example, it is possible to check the printing status for each order such as on which tray the sheet on which the image designated by the user is printed is stacked, or whether the image is being printed or has been printed. In addition, the user can operate / confirm in order to confirm the various states of the apparatus such as the remaining amount of ink and the remaining amount of the sheet, and to instruct the execution of apparatus maintenance such as head cleaning.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration relating to control in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 200 is the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  The CPU 201, ROM 202, RAM 203, image processing unit 207, engine control unit 208, and scanner control unit 209 are mainly included in the control unit 108. The control unit 108 is connected to the HDD 204, the operation unit 206, the external I / F 205, and the like via the system bus 210. The CPU 201 is a central processing unit in the form of a microprocessor (microcomputer), and is included in the control unit 108 of FIG. The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 200 by executing a program or starting up hardware. The ROM 202 stores programs to be executed by the CPU 201 and fixed data necessary for various operations of the image forming apparatus 200. The RAM 203 is used by the CPU 201 as a work area, used as a temporary storage area for various received data, and stores various setting data. The HDD 204 can store or read a program to be executed by the CPU 201, print data, and setting information necessary for various operations of the image forming apparatus 200 on a built-in hard disk. In place of the HDD 204, another mass storage device may be used.

  The operation unit 206 includes a hard key and a touch panel for the user to perform various operations, and a display unit for presenting (notifying) various information to the user, and corresponds to the operation unit 115 in FIG. . Information can also be presented to the user by outputting sound (buzzer, sound, etc.) based on the sound information from the sound generator.

  The image processing unit 207 performs various image processing, for example, develops (converts) print data (for example, data expressed in a page description language) of a print job handled by the image forming apparatus 200 into image data (bitmap image data). ) And other image processing. A color space (for example, YCbCr) of image data included in the input print data is converted into a standard RGB color space (for example, sRGB). In addition, various image processing such as resolution conversion to the number of effective pixels (image processing apparatus 200 can perform print processing), image analysis, image correction, and the like is performed on the image data as necessary. Image data obtained by these image processes is stored in the RAM 203 or the HDD 204.

  The engine control unit 208 controls processing for printing an image based on print data on a sheet in accordance with a control command received from the CPU 201 or the like. An ink ejection instruction to the print head 106 of each color, an ejection timing setting for adjusting a dot position (ink landing position) on the recording medium, adjustment based on acquisition of a head driving state, and the like are performed. The print head drive is controlled according to the print data, and ink is ejected from the print head to form an image on the sheet. In addition, the conveyance roller is controlled such as a feed roller drive instruction, a conveyance roller drive instruction, and a conveyance roller rotation status acquisition, and the sheet is conveyed and stopped at an appropriate speed and path.

  The scanner control unit 209 controls the image sensor in accordance with the control command received from the CPU 201 or the like, reads an image on the sheet, and analog luminance data of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colors. Is obtained and converted to digital data. As the image sensor, a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like can be employed. The image sensor is not limited to this, and may be a linear image sensor or an area image sensor, for example. Further, the scanner control unit 209 obtains an image sensor driving instruction and acquires the status of the image sensor based on the driving, analyzes the luminance data acquired from the image sensor, and discharges ink from the print head 106 or cuts the sheet. The position is detected. The sheet on which the image is correctly printed by the scanner control unit 209 is discharged to the tray of the designated sorting unit after the ink on the sheet is dried.

  The above-described components in the image forming apparatus 200 are connected via the system bus 210 and can communicate with each other.

  The host apparatus 211 corresponds to the above-described external apparatus, is connected to the outside of the image forming apparatus 200, and is an apparatus serving as a supply source of image data for causing the image forming apparatus 200 to perform printing. Issue an order. The host device 211 may be realized as a general-purpose personal computer (PC) or may be another type of data supply device. As another type of data supply device, for example, there is an image capture device that captures an image and generates image data. The image capture device is a reader (scanner) that reads an image on a document and generates image data, a film scanner that reads a negative film or a positive film, and generates image data. Other examples of the image capture device include a digital camera that captures a still image and generates digital image data, and a digital video that captures a moving image and generates moving image data. In addition, the host device 211 installs a photo storage on the network or provides a socket for inserting a removable portable memory, reads out an image file stored in the photo storage or the portable memory, and outputs image data. It is good also as what is produced | generated and printed. Further, instead of a general-purpose PC, various data supply devices such as a terminal dedicated to the image forming apparatus may be used. These data supply apparatuses may be components of the image forming apparatus or may be other apparatuses connected to the outside of the image forming apparatus. When the host device 211 is a PC, an OS, application software for generating image data, and a printer driver for the image forming apparatus 200 are installed in the storage device of the PC. The printer driver controls the image forming apparatus 200 or generates print data by converting image data supplied from application software into a format that can be handled by the image forming apparatus 200. Alternatively, conversion from print data to image data may be performed on the host apparatus 211 side before being supplied to the image forming apparatus 200. Note that it is not essential to implement all of the above processing by software, and a part or all of the processing may be realized by hardware. Image data, other commands, status signals, and the like supplied from the host device 211 can be transmitted / received to / from the image forming apparatus 200 via the external I / F 205. The external I / F 205 may be a local I / F or a network I / F. The external I / F 205 may be a wired connection or a wireless connection.

  In the above example, one CPU 201 controls all the components in the image forming apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 2, but other configurations are possible. That is, some of the functional blocks may be provided with separate CPUs and individually controlled by the respective CPUs. Each functional block may adopt various forms, such as appropriately dividing as an individual processing unit or control unit, or integrating some of the functional blocks according to a method other than the configuration shown in FIG. In addition, a direct memory access controller (DMAC) may be used for reading data from the memory.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the sorting unit 114. The sorting unit 114 holds a plurality of trays (18 in this embodiment), and distinguishes the sheet discharge destination tray according to the length of the printing unit or the like. Each tray is assigned a tray number. The sorting unit 114 checks the trays set for each print image while checking whether or not the sheets passing through the unit in the direction i in the drawing are empty or full with a sensor provided on each tray. Paper is discharged to the tray corresponding to the number. For example, the CPU 201 manages whether or not each tray is empty and the number of empty trays in the sorting unit 114. A tray to which the cut sheet is discharged may be specified by a print job issuer (host device), or an empty tray may be arbitrarily specified on the image forming apparatus side. . Paper can be discharged up to a predetermined number on one tray. In the case of a print job exceeding the predetermined number, the sheet is discharged across a plurality of trays. The number, size, type, and the like of sheets that can be discharged to a tray vary depending on the size (type) of the tray. In FIG. 3, trays (hereinafter referred to as “large trays”) 309 to 316 arranged vertically (upper and lower) are composed of large size sheets (A4 size, etc., larger than 2L plate size), small sizes (2L plate size or less) Both sheets can be discharged. Also, trays (hereinafter referred to as small trays) 301 to 308 arranged side by side (hereinafter referred to as “small trays”) can discharge small size sheets (2L size or less), but cannot discharge large size sheets. . Further, a tray (hereinafter referred to as an extra tray) 317 at the top of the trays arranged vertically (up and down) is used when the large and small trays are full. Whether or not to use the extra tray can be appropriately changed by the user setting the main body. The trash can tray 318 discharges a sheet on which a control pattern for register tone and discharge failure complement is printed.

  In addition, a state such as sheet discharge or completion of sheet discharge can be identified by the user using a display (for example, an LED or the like is used). For example, a plurality of LEDs that emit light of different colors can be provided for each tray, and the user can be notified of the various states of each tray depending on the color of the LEDs that are lit or whether they are lit or blinking.

  Further, priorities can be assigned to each of the plurality of trays, and when the image forming apparatus 200 executes the print job, the empty trays (sheets do not exist) are assigned to the sheet discharge destinations in order according to the priorities. Will be assigned as. In the present embodiment, by default, the large tray group has a higher priority for the upper tray, the lower tray has a higher priority for the left side, and the smaller tray has a higher priority for the larger tray. The priority order is not limited to this. As for the priority order, for example, the priority order of the position where the user can easily take out the sheet may be set higher. Note that the priority order may be appropriately changed by a user operation or the like.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for determining a tray to be used and performing printing when printing is performed while receiving a print job and performing image processing. The processing shown in FIG. 4 is realized, for example, when the CPU 201 reads out a program stored in the ROM 202 to the RAM 203 and executes it.

In step S <b> 401, a print job is input from the host device 211. Here, information necessary for printing is input. Examples of information necessary for printing include print size information. Information necessary for this printing is input in addition to a print job, for example. The print size may be designated by the user or may be designated in advance for the print job.
In S402, i = 1 is assigned to the page number in the print job, and i = 1 is substituted for the initial value.
In step S403, the image processing unit 207 performs image processing on the i-th page data, and generates image data from the print data. That is, the image data of the i-th page is generated.

  In step S404, it is determined whether all pages in the print job have been processed. If not all pages have undergone image processing (No in S404), the process proceeds to S405. If it is determined that the image processing for all pages has been completed (Yes in S404), the process proceeds to S422.

  In step S405, it is determined whether the discharge tray for the i-1th printed sheet has been determined. If the discharge tray for the i-1th printed sheet has been determined (Yes in S405), the process proceeds to S406, and the discharge tray for the i-th printed sheet is determined to be the same tray as the i-1th page. If it is not determined in step S405 that the discharge tray for the i-1th printed sheet has been determined (No in step S405), the process advances to step S407.

  In S407, the availability of the tray is confirmed. Here, check if there is no empty tray. If neither the large tray nor the small tray is empty (Yes in S407), the process proceeds to S408, and the discharge tray of the i-th printed sheet is determined as the extra tray. If at least one of the trays is empty, that is, if there is an empty tray (NO in S407), the process proceeds to S409.

  In step S409, it is determined whether the print data of the i-th page is larger than 2L size. This is for deciding which paper should be discharged to the large tray or the small tray of the sorting unit 114. Here, the determination is made based on the print size information of the print job. If the print data of the i-th page is larger than the 2L size (Yes in S409), the process proceeds to S410. If the print data of the i-th page has a size of 2L or less (NO in S409), the process proceeds to S413.

  In S410, it is determined whether a large tray is available in the sorting unit 114. If the large tray is empty (Yes in S410), the process proceeds to S411, and the discharge trays for the printed sheets of all pages up to the i-th page are determined as the large tray. In other words, the discharge trays for the printed sheets of all pages up to the i-th page for which the discharge tray has not been determined are determined as the large tray. If the large tray is not empty (No in S410), the process proceeds to S412 and the discharge trays of the printed sheets of all the pages not printed up to the i-th page are determined as the extra tray. In other words, the discharge trays for the print sheets of all pages up to the i-th page for which the discharge tray has not been determined are determined as the extra tray.

  In S413, it is determined whether the i-th page is the maximum number of trays loaded, that is, an integral multiple of the discharge limit number. That is, if i = PLAY_MAX * N (N = 1, 2, 3,...), The print data for the maximum number of trays loaded has been subjected to image processing, so it is determined that the printing process can be started. The process proceeds to S414. Here, the maximum number of stacked trays is the maximum number of stacked trays. In this embodiment, the maximum number of stacked trays is the same. If the maximum number of stacked sheets differs for each tray, for example, it may be determined whether the maximum number of stacked sheets is an integral multiple of the maximum number of stacked trays.

  In S414, it is determined whether a small tray is available. If the small tray is empty (Yes in S414), in S415, the discharge tray for the printed sheets of pages corresponding to the maximum number of stacked sheets is determined as the small tray. When the small tray is not empty (No in S414), the process proceeds to S416. This is because, in the present embodiment, when the maximum stack number of each discharge tray is the same and the print job includes pages equal to or more than the maximum stack number, one print job needs to be discharged to a plurality of discharge trays. Because there is. That is, even if the print job includes a mixture of sheets of different sizes and types, it is sufficient that the print job is discharged to the small tray if it is at least as small as the maximum number of sheets loaded on the discharge tray.

  In S416, it is determined whether a large tray is available. If the large tray is empty (Yes in S416), in S417, the discharge tray for the printed sheets of pages corresponding to the maximum number of stacked trays is determined as the large tray. If the large tray is not empty (No in S416), in S418, the print sheet discharge tray for the maximum number of stacked sheets is determined as the extra tray.

  When the discharge tray for the print sheet of each page is determined in this way, the process proceeds to S419, where the image forming apparatus 200 prints an image based on the image data on the sheet, and the sorting unit 114 according to the tray determined in S420. Paper is discharged. Thereafter, the page number i is incremented by 1 in S421, and the process returns to S403 to perform image processing for the next page.

  Note that if it is determined in S413 that i is a page that is an integral multiple of the maximum number of trays and the process returns to S403, that is, if the process returns to S403 via S415, S417, or S418, the print sheet of the (i-1) th page is determined in S405. It is determined that the paper discharge tray has not been determined. For example, a flag may be set after S415, S417, and S418. If the flag is ON in S405, it may be determined that the i-1th page has been printed and not ejected to the tray, and the process may proceed to S407. . For example, the value of i may be set to 0 after S415, S417, and S418. In the case of the method of setting the value of i to 0, in S413, it may be determined whether i is the same as the maximum number of trays loaded.

  If it is not an integral multiple in S413, printing is not started (No in S413), the page number i is incremented by 1 in S421, and the process returns to S403 to perform image processing for the next page.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the paper discharge tray is determined while performing image processing for each page of data in the job, printing is started when the large tray is determined. Therefore, even for jobs that include pages of different sizes, paper can be discharged to the same tray, and the printing start timing is earlier than printing after image processing of all pages is completed, and the printing time is reduced. Shortening is possible.

  If the large tray is not vacant and only the small tray or the extra tray is vacant, printing is started when print data for the i-th page is generated. As a result, the printing time can be shortened.

  Furthermore, printing is started when the maximum number of print data that can be discharged to the small tray is accumulated, so that it is possible to shorten the print time of a job composed of only small-size pages.

  In S422, it is determined whether there is a size larger than 2L size in the job. Here, when the number of pages in the job is 2 pages or more, since it is already determined that the pages up to the (i-1) th page are 2L or less, it is determined whether the i page, that is, the last page is larger than 2L size. do it. If there is a page larger than 2L size, that is, if the last page is larger than 2L size (Yes in S422), the process proceeds to S423. If there is no page larger than 2L size, that is, if the last page is 2L size or less (No in S422), the process proceeds to S426.

  In S423, it is determined whether the large tray is empty. If the large tray is empty (Yes in S423), the process proceeds to S424, and the discharge trays for the print sheets of all pages are determined as the large tray. When the large tray is not empty (No in S423), the process proceeds to S425, and the discharge tray of the print sheets of all pages is determined as the extra tray.

  In S426, it is determined whether a small tray is available. If the small tray is empty (Yes in S426), in S427, the discharge tray for the print sheets of all pages is determined as the small tray. When the small tray is not empty (No in S426), the process proceeds to S428, and the discharge tray for the print sheets of all pages is determined as the extra tray.

  In this way, the discharge tray for the print sheet of each page is determined, and the process proceeds to S429, where the image forming apparatus 200 prints an image on the sheet based on the image data, and discharges to the sorting unit 114 according to the tray determined in S430. To do.

  As described above, when the image processing is completed because the data in the job has not started printing, the trays of all pages are determined based on the last page, and the sheets are discharged onto the same tray.

  In the present embodiment, when the large tray or the small tray is not empty, it is determined to be the extra tray. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if it is set not to use the extra tray in the setting of whether or not the extra tray can be used, the extra tray may not be determined and the tray may be in a full state.

  In the present embodiment, the tray to be used is determined based on the paper size. However, the tray to be used may be determined according to the type and basis weight of the paper.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing in which order the paper is discharged in which order after the tray is determined according to the flow of FIG.

  As job data, the first page is 4 × 6 inches, the second page is A4 size, and the third page is 4 × 6 inches. A case where printing is performed while performing image processing on this job will be described. It is assumed that the large tray and small tray are empty. When the first page is image-processed, the size is smaller than 2L and the maximum number of trays has not been reached, so the tray is not determined and printing is not started (No in S405, No in S407, Yes in S409, S413). No). When the next second page is image-processed, the A4 size is larger than 2L, so the second page is determined to be a large tray (No in S405, No in S407, Yes in S409, Yes in S410, S411). At the same time, the discharge tray for the first page is determined to be the large tray (S411). At this time, printing of the first page and the second page is started, and the discharge tray is discharged to the large tray 1. Subsequently, since the third page is processed and the second page is discharged to the large tray, the third page is determined to be the same large tray as the second page, printed, and the second page is printed. To the same tray (Yes in S405). As a result, the print sheets of all pages are discharged to the large tray 1. Note that which of the large trays is used as the discharge tray may be determined according to a preset priority order or the like.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, one print job in which sheets of different sizes and types are mixed can be discharged to the same tray. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the page order is discharged to different paper discharge trays. In addition, since image processing is performed in units of pages and printing is started when the page discharge tray is determined to be a large tray, the print start timing is earlier than printing after image processing for all pages is completed. The printing time can be shortened. If the large tray is not empty and only the small tray or extra tray is empty, printing starts when the print data for the i-th page is generated. The print start timing is earlier than this. Therefore, the printing time can be shortened. Furthermore, by starting printing when the maximum number of print data that can be discharged to the small tray has been accumulated, the print start timing is earlier than printing after image processing for all pages has been completed. It is possible to shorten the printing time of a job composed only of the pages.

(Embodiment 2)
In this embodiment, the discharge tray for printed sheets of the print job is determined in consideration of the priority of the print job. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same thing as Embodiment 1, and the description which overlaps with Embodiment 1 is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for determining a tray to be used and performing printing when performing printing while performing image processing according to the priority of the print job. The processing shown in FIG. 6 is realized, for example, when the CPU 201 reads out the program stored in the ROM 202 to the RAM 203 and executes it.

In step S <b> 601, a print job is input from the host device 211. Here, information necessary for printing is input. Examples of information necessary for printing include print size information. Information necessary for this printing is input in addition to a print job, for example.
In step S602, i = 1 is assigned to the page number in the print job, and i = 1 is substituted for the initial value.
In step S603, the image processing unit 207 performs image processing on the i-th page data to generate print data.

  In step S604, it is determined whether the priority of the job is high. For example, if interrupt printing is designated, it is determined that the priority is high. If the priority is not high (No in S604), the process proceeds to S605 and proceeds to S404 in FIG. Thereafter, the flow of FIG. 4 is followed. If it is determined in S604 that the priority is high (Yes in S604), the process proceeds to S606.

  In step S606, the tray used by the page is determined according to the paper size. The tray determination flow in S606 is the same as the determination flow from S422 to S428 in FIG. In step S422, it is determined whether the page is larger than 2L.

  In S607, the image forming apparatus 200 prints on the paper, and in S608, the paper is discharged to the sorting unit 114 according to the determined tray. Thereafter, the page number i is incremented by 1 in S609, and the process returns to S603 to perform image processing for the next page.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the case of a print job with a high priority, priority can be given to printing as quickly as possible. In other words, a print job with a high priority can be printed at the timing when the first page of image processing is completed and print data is generated.

  For example, a normal print job other than a print job with high priority can obtain the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that image processing is performed in units of pages and the determination in S404 is performed, and the timing to start printing is earlier, but the present invention is not limited to this. The determination of S404 may be performed every time image processing of a predetermined unit, for example, a plurality of pages, is completed. In this case, S403, S407, and S409 do not determine the i-th page, but may determine a plurality of pages including the i page as the target page. As a result, while reducing the processing load due to the determination, the timing for starting printing is earlier than when printing is started after all page images have been processed.

  In the above-described embodiment, it is determined in S409 and S422 whether the target page is larger than 2L, and the paper discharge tray is determined based on the determination result. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be determined whether the print size of the target page is larger than another size (for example, A4), whether the print paper type is a specific type (for example, glossy paper), or the print size It is also possible to determine whether or not is a predetermined size or more and whether the printing paper type is a specific type. In these cases, it may be determined in S409 or S422 whether the printing condition of the target page satisfies a predetermined condition.

  In the above-described embodiment, the large tray, the small tray, and the extra tray are provided as print sheet discharge destinations. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a medium tray may be further provided. May not be provided.

  Moreover, although the embodiment described in FIGS. 3 to 6 has been described by taking a roll sheet as an example, the recording medium is not limited to a continuous sheet, and may be a sheet cut for each size. I do not care.

  In the above-described embodiment, the method of performing print processing every time print data is generated by performing image processing has been described. However, the image forming apparatus performs printing after all the print data included in the print job is generated. It may be possible. In other words, the image forming apparatus can select a so-called on-the-fly mode in which printing processing is performed every time print data for each page is generated, and a mode in which printing is performed after all the print data included in the print job is generated. May be. In this case, when the print mode is selected after all the print data included in the print job is generated, in the case of No in S404, that is, until the image processing for all pages in the job is completed. What is necessary is just to make it return to S402. And when it becomes Yes in S404, what is necessary is just to make it process according to S422-S430.

  The above-described embodiment can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program. It is processing to do. Further, the program may be executed by one computer or may be executed in conjunction with a plurality of computers. Also, it is not necessary to implement all of the above processing by software, and part or all of the processing may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC. Further, the CPU is not limited to the one that performs all the processing by one CPU, and a plurality of CPUs may perform the processing while appropriately cooperating.

Claims (10)

Generating means for generating image data based on print data of a plurality of pages;
First determination means for determining whether the print condition of the target page satisfies a predetermined condition every time image data of the target page is generated by the generation means based on the print data;
A determination unit that determines a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on image data of a predetermined page including the target page is printed based on a determination result of the first determination unit;
Print control means for causing the printing unit to print an image based on the image data generated by the generation means;
With
The determining unit determines a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on the image data of the predetermined page is printed when the first determining unit determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied;
The printing control apparatus, wherein the printing control unit causes the printing unit to print an image based on the image data of the predetermined page whose discharge destination is determined by the determination unit. A second determination unit that determines whether a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on image data of a page before the target page is printed is determined;
If the determination unit determines that the second determination unit has determined, the determination unit determines a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on image data of a page before the target page is printed as a discharge destination of the target page. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print control apparatus is determined as follows.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined page includes a page before the target page and a discharge destination is not determined. And further comprising third determination means for determining whether or not the discharge limit is reached when the target page is printed and discharged,
The determination unit does not determine that the first determination unit satisfies the predetermined condition, but if the third determination unit determines that the discharge limit number is reached, an image based on the image data of the predetermined page is not obtained. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge destination of a sheet to be printed is determined.   The determination unit does not determine that the first determination unit satisfies the predetermined condition, but based on the image data of the predetermined page when the generation unit generates image data of all pages in the print job. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image is printed is determined.   The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition includes a specific print size. Further comprising a specifying means for specifying the empty state of the discharge destination,
The determining means determines a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on the image data of the predetermined page is printed based on the determination result of the first determining means and the empty situation specified by the specifying means. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control apparatus is a printing control apparatus.   The determination unit is configured to determine whether the first determination unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition when the priority of the print job is higher than the priority of another print job. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on the image data of the target page is printed is determined based on the determination result. A generation step of generating image data based on print data of a plurality of pages;
A first determination step of determining whether the print condition of the target page satisfies a predetermined condition every time image data of the target page is generated based on the print data by the generation step;
A determination step of determining a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on image data of a predetermined page including the target page is printed based on a determination result of the first determination step;
A print control step for causing the printing unit to print an image based on the image data generated by the generation step;
With
In the determination step, when the first determination step determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, a discharge destination of a sheet on which an image based on the image data of the predetermined page is printed is determined;
In the print control step, the print control method causes the printing unit to print an image based on the image data of the predetermined page whose discharge destination is determined in the determination step.   A program that causes a computer to function as each unit of the print control apparatus according to claim 1.

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